Travelers finish second in division at Midland

The Travelers compiled a 4-0 pool play record and advanced to the championship game in the Cliff Harris Division of the tourney.

In the championship game, the Travelers fell 9-6 against Bay City Sunday.

"We don't have much big game experience, and this will only make us more prepared for the zone and state tournament," EUP coach Billy Mitchell said. "Offensively our bats finally came alive like I have been waiting for. We put on a show at the plate this weekend. We finished with 57 hits, 10 doubles, two triples and six home runs. Two of the home runs were grand slams, and one was a walk-off."

The Travelers outhit Bay City 15-9, but two costly errors hurt the EUPs chances as they allowed four unearned runs.

Devon Dear was 3-for-4, with a home run and two RBIs for the Travelers. Tyler Kirkland added three hits, while Michael James, Frank Bailey and Dakota Zuhlke had two hits each.

Jake Harrison started on the mound and gave up nine runs on nine hits. Jagger McCudden pitched one inning and did not allow any hits or runs.

The Travelers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game 8-8. After giving up three runs in the top of the seventh, the Travelers rallied again and scored seven in the bottom of the seventh to win.

Devon Dear pounded a grand slam to break up a 11-11 tie, giving the Travelers the win in walk-off fashion.

"He absolutely mashed that ball," Mitchell said. "In the 14 years I've been coaching it is probably the longest home run I have ever seen."

Kolbe Peller, Lou Krupa and James had three hits each.

Lou Krupa, Bailey and Brady VanSloten shared pitching duties.

VanSloten took the win, working the final three innings and allowing two runs on five hits, with four strikeouts.

Against Davidson, Kirkland, Peller, James and Lou Krupa had two hits each. Bailey, Kirkland and Krupa had home runs. Krupa's homer was a grand slam.

McCudden started on the mound and gave up seven runs over three innings. Bailey closed, and did not allow any hits or runs in one inning.

On Friday, the Travelers opened the tournament with a 7-2 win over Mickeys and a 2-1 win over Bay City.

Kirkland, Peller and Lou Krupa had two hits each for the EUP, which compiled 11 hits.

Krupa was 2-for-3 and hit a home run, while Kirkland had a double and two RBIs, and Dear hit a triple. Harrison had a single and two RBIs.

Kirkland picked up the mound win, allowing just two runs on five hits over seven innings. Kirkland struck out nine and did not issue any walks.

The Travelers also beat Bay City 1-0. Andrew Krupa pitched six scoreless innings and earned the win. Kirkland notched the save, working a 1-2-3 seventh inning and striking out two.

James and Kirkland had two hits each. James had a double and RBI, while VanSloten, Peller, Lou Krupa and Harrison also had hits.